ONCE UPON A DREAM; Autumn Glory

"Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness..." John Keats

Fall, leaves, fall;  die, flowers, away

Lengthen night and shorten day

Every leaf speaks bliss to me,

Fluttering from the autumn tree.

I shall smile when wreaths of snow

Blossom where the rose should grow.

I shall sing when night's decay

Ushers in a drearier day.

By Emily Bronte

I love this poem by Emily Bronte.  It sums up autumn and my fondness for the season just beautifully.  The dark season has taken hold now, with the clocks going back last weekend.  As I write it is just after nine o'clock in the evening and it is dark as midnight.  The rain is lashing against the windowpanes of my little house and the wind is howling it's way up to a gale...it sounds like a wailing banshee.  

Last week was quite busy as I went to several Halloween events. A couple of them were held in Sherwood Forest, after dark.  I love being in Sherwood at night time; the owls were calling out to one another and the dried leaves lingering on the trees were whispering around us, like the ghostly breath of a spirit.  The Spooky Walk was a bit like a ghost train, with things leaping out of the trees and the Ghost Storyteller was dressed in top hat and tails, recounting ghostly tales of Sherwood Forest.  It was a lovely way to spend Samhain.

Today it was back to the grindstone, writing my column for Spirit&Destiny.  The lead times mean that we are actually writing the spring issues at the moment, so my head space is always several months ahead of time, but I do like to work ahead anyway. It has be difficult to concentrate though as so many fireworks are going off, it being the weekend before Guy Fawkes Night on November 5th. 

In the darker months I like to make my house smell super cosy.  I'm currently burning Yankee's November Rain, which is fitting considering the weather.  I have lots of candles lit each evening as the nights draw in. I like to fill my home with little sparks of living light and dancing flames.  Cosy home fragrances are one of my shopping weaknesses, especially at this time of year.  I think it's because the shops really make an effort to capture the scents of the autumn and winter seasons in their products.  

My ex-fiance used to complain that I was wasting money on scented candles and oils - men just don't get it do they?  It isn't about having money to burn (though obviously that IS what I'm doing!); it's about creating an atmosphere...and atmospheres are magical.  For me scented candles, oils and incense sticks are about enhancing the enchantment of my living space.  They add to the sense of welcome and security of home. They make each room smell fabulous.  They bring the spirits of autumn and winter into my pretty little house and give me a satisfying sense of abundance.  

The oils from Marks&Spencer are wonderful; powerful fragrances that will last a couple of years, and they only cost a couple of pounds.  The comfort and joy these products give to me far outweighs the cost.  If you've never tried the festive oils from M&S, go and have a sniff. Their winter range is out now and they are quite inexpensive for the amount of time they last, as you only need a couple of drops to fill the house with fragrance. Give them a go.  They really are tiny bottles of winter's magic and sparkle!

  

November Rain (Blue) is the scent I'm snuggling up with tonight.